Breech mechanism for ordnance



3 Sheets-S eeeee I.

No Model.)

r M. .MONDRAGON.

BREEUH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE.

'a; ented'ADr. 16 1895.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets -Sheet 2.

M. MOND RAGONH BREEGH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE.

Non 537,701. Patented Apr. 16, 1895 alien wa (No Model.) 3 SheetS- Sheet 3.

v M. MONDRAGON.

I BREBGH MECHANISM FOR 'ORDNANGE. No. 537,701. Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

wi/tvwooeo 1: cams PETERS co. PNOTO-UYHO" wAsuinuToN, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BREECH MEGHANKSM FOR'ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,701, dated April 16, 1895. Application filed AprilZ1,1894-- Serial No. 508,474. (No mcdehi Patented in France November 18, 1891, No. 217,526.

To (all whom it may con/0m n:

Be it known that 1, MANUEL ONDRAUON, a citizen of the Republic of Mexico, residing at 'lacubaya, in the Federal Districtjof Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lircech -I.oading Cannon, (for which I have obtained a patent in France, No. 217,526, dated November 18, 1891;) and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to breech blocks, which are operated to unlock, withdraw and open by a single pull of an operating lever, said lever being pivoted on the carrier and its projecting end engaging acam slot in the face of the breech block, whereby the breech block is unlocked by the first part of the mo tion of the operating lever. I also provide safety mechanism for protecting the firing pin, during the time in which the breech block is unlocked, which mechanism consists of a projecting shutter hung on a shaft jourualed in the carrier, and means for operating said shaft upon the revolution of the breech-block.

To accomplish this object my invention consists in the features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a horizontal section,the breechbloek being in elevation. Fig. 2 is a similar View, the breech-block thrown open. Fig. 3'

is a rear view, the parts being in the position as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Figs. 5 and (3 are detailyiews. Figs. 7 and 8 operative and inoperative positions;

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, 1 will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- A indicates a gun; a, the tube, and a the .cet thereof, the same being equipped with my improvements.

I; is the breechblock, having what I shall term for convenience a double set of interrupted screw threads, I), b, engaging corresponding screw threads, I) in the gun, the

adetailed views showing the cams, in their threads, 1), being on a line with the spaces, 11 of the outer threads, b, as will be seen by reference to the drawings, so that the breechblock caube easily withdrawn.

The breech-block has a reduced portion, 0 on its outerend which forms the axis for it to revolve on. This reduced portion is pivotally supported by the carrier arm, 0, which is horizontally pivoted between ears,c, by a pin, 0 on one side and nearthe breech of the gun. The carrier arm and the reduced portion, 0 are connected by means of a screw, V, passing through a perforation in the end of the carrier arm and entering an annular groove, V, in the reduced portion. bend in the arm, 0, as at e' is necessary so that ready access may be had to the firing pin.

Through a central perforation in the breechblock extends the firing pin, K, operated by any suitable means (not shown). ln the outer face of the breech-block is formed a cam slot 0, extending nearly at right angles to a vertical line from the center of the gun.

In a slot, 0 in the ,carrier arm is mounted on a pin, 0, a lever, G, having a reduced inner end, as at g. The outerend of said lever has formed thereon an operating handle, '1, hollowed out at t, forming a seat for a bellcrank latch, 15, the horizontal arm of which has a step, t, which engages a bevel projection, a", on the side of the gun. A small spring 25*, serves to keep the step, t, in engagement with the projection, a, thus locking the parts together. In the carrier arm is mounted a short shaft, .I, having at its inner end a cam,f, seated in a crank arm s1o't,f, in the front face of the breech-block, and at its outer end a shield or guard, J.

In the rear of the carrier arm is formed a recess, 0, and seated therein is a spring, a, having on its outer face two lugs, 11 and b.

A smallindentation, bfiis formed in the outer face of the breech-block and in the path of the lug, b. \(VIIBII the breech block is returned to the breech, the lug b comes in contact with the end of the gun, pressing in the spring arm on which is formed the lug, I), thus disengaging the log, I), from the notch, W, in the breech block and permitting said breech block to turn.

The end of the carrier arm has a project- A slight ing lug, b that is so arranged as to strike against and withdraw the extractor.

The operation-of my device is as follows, the parts being ,in position as shown in Fig. l: The operator grasps the handle, T, at the same time pulling in the direction of the arrow, 1, which releases the-latch and revolves the latch-block one-twelfth of a revolution. The lever, G, is prearranged so as to revolve .the breech-block far enough to bring the screw threads onsaid breech-block directly in line with the spaces between the threads on the interior of theg'un. It will be understood thatmotion is imparted to the breechblock by means of the lug, of'the lever, G, operating in the cam slot. The shaft, J, on which the crank arm,f', is secured, revolves in hearings in the carrier,G. It will be readily seen that as the breech block is revolved the lower portion f of the cam f, in the face of the breech block will come in contact with the lower portion f of the crank arm and revolve the shaft-far enough to throw up the guard, J, and protect the firingpin. The first motion of thelever disengages the latch, revolves the breech-block into such a position that it may be readily withdrawn and throws up the shield. The motion is continued and from this point of the operation, the lever G, carrier arm, and breech-block move as one, the parts now traveling in the direction of the arrow, 2, and the breechblock is withdrawn from the breech as shown in Fig. 2. As the breech-block leaves the breech, the lug, b, on the spring, engages the indentation, b and securely locks the carrier arm and the breech block together. Thus when the parts are returned no danger of the screw threads on the breechblock coming in contact with the'interior threads of the gun, will be encountered. At a given time the lug on the lever G, comes incontact with theextractor and withdraws it from the gun.

All the parts are so arranged and constructed that by reversing the movement of the lever, the breech-block can be replaced within the breech, by a single movement.

It will be seen that I have provided a breech mechanism that 'is extremely simple in construction and that can be operated in less time than has heretofore been necessary. A single movement withdraws the breech-block, and a single movement returns it.

My invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art .to which it. pertains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a gun having a breech block, provided on its outer face with a cam slot, in combination with a carrier arm, an operating lever pivotally connected to said carrier arm, the end of said lever working in said slot, substantially as-shown and described.

2-. In a gun the combination with a breech block and carrier arm of a shaft jonrnaled in said arm and provided with a-c'rank arm, a shield, or guard, on the opposite end of said shaft a cam slot in the breech block to receive said crank arm, the firingpin covered by said shield, and by the carrier arm and lever, whereby the firing pin is covered or uncovered, when the gun is opened or closed. ub-

stantially as described.

3L In a gun, the combination with a carrier arm, a hinged breech block having on its outer face a cam slot, an operating lever hinged to the carrier arm, provided with a lug engaging the cam slot in the face of the breech block, a shaft journaled in the carrier arm, having at its outer end a guard or shield, and its inner end provided witha crank arm seated within and operated by the cam slot in the face of the breech block, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- MANUEL MONDRAGON.

Witnesses:

, GUILLO SoHEEL,

ALBERTO AHARY. 

